My wife is about to come into a little money. Not a lot, but she is giving me around 7 to 8 k to get a car with.

I'm currently driving around in her company car, a CR-V and I want to get a used 4x4.

My choices are slightly limited due to the fact that Mrs I is a bit of a snob and doesn't want to be seen in a chav mobile, so that cuts out most of the Jap stuff (Anything Mitubishi/Nissan/Jeep), so I've narrowed it down to a final 3.

I've had Land Rovers in the past, including disco's and I'm well aware of their well deserved reputation. I think that I can get around a 2002 for each of them or there abouts for that money.

Got to be Auto, Got to be diesel.

So my questions to the floor are,
1. Does anyone have any of these and what are they like?
2. I'm aware that both the Disco and the ML have a reputation for faults, so would I be better going for the RX? My thinking is that although the RX is a 3.0 V6 and has low MPG, would I save more in the long run as I wouldn't be paying out for repairs every five minutes?
3. Both the LR and the Merc have any number of independent garages that specialise in the marques. The Lexus not so (at least not that I have found so far - I'm in the Bath/Bristol area). I'm quite fond of getting someone who knows about the cars to look after them, but not so fond of main dealer prices. Anyone know much about Lexus servicing?
4. Any other marques/models that I should consider? Off road ability is not the prime concern, I do tracks/greenlanes with my shooting but not hard core stuff, so really ground clearance is all that matters and all three meet that requirement.

Have a look at Jeep.
For that sort of money you could pick up a tidy Grand Cherokee CRD Limited. (2004, 60k ish)
2.7 Mercedes diesel (167hp) mated to a 5 speed Mercedes auto. Plenty of go, and sounds good. Quicker than equivalent RR or LR.
Has every extra you could ever want (electric, heated, memory, leather seats, etc etc). my favourite is the sun visor mirror lights, which have a dimmer switch! why?

Big service costs about Â£300. I got up to 34mpg on the motorway, but seemed to average about 28mpg all round.
excellent off road, with the right tires it is peerless. On road it tackles autobahn/motorway really well, no need to turn up the excellent stereo with infinity speakers to counter the road noise, even at 90+. Does roll a bit on the corners, so you need to be smooth.

Tough and reliable, make sure all the electrical stuff works. They are built at the Mercedes factory in Graz (Austria) so general build quality is good.

Image wise it seems to cut the mustard amongst the others 4x4s on the shoot. Mainly as it is a proper 4x4 and not a hairdressing/footballers wives/drug dealer BMW x5

I have a Landcruiser 80 , 3 diff locks , 4.2 L 24v diesel engine , OME suspension , it will cross any desert , but is huge , drives like a truck , and even as one of the last made is over 12 years old.

I have a Landcruiser 80 , 3 diff locks , 4.2 L 24v diesel engine , OME suspension , it will cross any desert , but is huge , drives like a truck , and even as one of the last made is over 12 years old.

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Thought they were still available, made outside Japan? I drove one with only 5000Kms in KAF last year.